The Green Party recently proposed a one-year pause on new AI data centres while stronger rules are developed. But do data centres inevitably have to become another energy-hungry burden on electricity systems? Most already contain sophisticated electrical infrastructure, including uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems, batteries, backup power systems and, increasingly, on-site renewable generation. But with the right design and market incentives, data centres could instead become part of the solution. With more projects likely to follow Datagrid’s Southland development, Aotearoa New Zealand’s goal should be to make data centres grid assets rather than grid constraints.